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Background:
The hunter-gatherer people of the Mannan tribe are
indigenous to the area which is now the Periyar Tiger Reserve.
When the reserve was established in the 1960s the tribe was
relocated to the reserve’s outskirts. A few families of the
tribe along with the Mannan Tribe chief now live in an area
called Kozhimala in the Idduki District. Kozhimala is a little
village settlement in the Western Ghat mountain ranges around
two hours drive from the towns of Kumily & Thekkady town.
Yearoutindia's project aim is to build two small houses with
basic facilities. Even the simplest housing will be a vast
improvement upon the existing accommodation: The first house
is incomplete and currently uninhabitable, so must be rebuilt
from the existing foundations. The second house to be built
is to replace an existing hut made entirely of coconut and
banana leaves, which is cramped, decaying and not at all weatherproof.
About the Project
This project was brought to the attention of Yearoutindia
when a Sasi, a very honest and committed guard at the Periyar
Tiger Reserve who works with the tribal heritage Eco-development
committee took one of our volunteers to see his house and
village. Sasi had recently lost his brother Soman, who left
behind his wife and children. Sasi has two small children,
Sandeep 10½ and Sanjay, just 18 months old.
At present the family is living with their grandmother (Lakshmi)
in cramped living conditions with no running water, electricity
or proper sanitation. They are in desperate need of a house.
Shocked by the living conditions of Sasi's family, our volunteer
suggested that Yearoutindia assist them in constructing new
housing.
Foundations and walls for a new house for Soman's family had
been built by the government. However, the funding dried up
before the house could be finished. Since the building was
left uncompleted for 2 years, the exposed walls have now become
unsafe due to damp and must be knocked down and built again.
Using the existing foundation, volunteers, tribe members and
local builders will construct a permanent brick walled house
with a corrugated iron roof. Or if sufficient funds can be
raised, a concrete roof which, unlike the corrugated iron
roof need never be replaced.
Outhouse toilets will also be installed, as the current toilet
is incomplete. The bricks that currently make up the walls
are to be recycled where possible. A small area of land adjacent
to the house is to be flattened and cleared to allow cooking,
cleaning etc. to be done outside.
All building materials and labour will be sourced locally
therefore generating business which supports the local economy.
House 2
On
visiting the village, YOI staff also discovered another
family living in a dilapidated hut that desperately
needs replacing. The family consists of parents (Radhamani
and Rajan) and their 4 children ages 3, 4, 5 and 6.
For such a large family the hut is not only insubstantial
but very overcrowded.
The existing accommodation is a flimsy hut made from
coconut leaf thatching, which offers little protection
from the elements. There are no facilities in place
for cooking, comfort or hygiene. As with House 1,
we aim to construct a permanent, stable and safe structure
with basic living facilities, such as a clay oven
(tandoor) as well as glass windows and a door. There
are no foundations in place for house 2, so these
will need to be built. Furthermore, waterproofing
must be installed on the roof of the existing hut
so that the family can live less uncomfortably while
house 2 is being built.
What
the volunteers will be doing ?
As a volunteer on this initiative you will be staying
on site and will build a close working relationship
with the tribal community including the families for
whom the houses are being built. You can teach, build
and renovate at this site. You will also work closely
with other volunteers and YOI staff, giving you the
chance to gain extensive knowledge of new cultures
and perhaps even languages. In addition you will enjoy
the unique experience of working in the beautiful
area surrounding the beautiful Western Ghat Mountain
Ranges.
The development work is on going and we need a min
of 2-3 volunteers as soon as possible to help with
management and building work on-site.
Adventurous volunteers may stay in tents on site,
but YOI also has a house nearby which volunteers can
use. YOI staff will be present on site and will cook
meals for volunteers. Special dietary requirements
can be accommodated. After work activities will be
in the form of treks, camp fires, BBQ's, games, bamboo
rafting etc etc.
This
project will greatly benefit the tribal community
and also has much to offer the volunteers :
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A
unique opportunity to work amongst tribal people
and to learn about their culture and way of life. |
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Take
part in the very unusual and colourful Annual
tribal festival in March. |
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The
satisfaction of creating permanent homes for two
families. |
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The
joy of working in an area of outstanding natural
beauty in the Western Ghat Mountain ranges. |
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A
chance to build life-long friendships with people
from all walks of life. |
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A
chance to improve your DIY skills! |
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* It's a challenging project
that require volunteers to be resourceful, committed,
self motivated and will definitely involve long hours
of work with plenty of excitement and fun. You will
be involved in planning, organising and building activities
with the help of a team of volunteers, local laborers
and members of the community. Please note that the project
area is remote and basic facilities will be provided
by Yearoutindia. Amenities like Internet, ATM's, mobile
reception, Fax etc are only available at the Yearoutindia
house in Kumily which is 2 hours drive away.
Program Costs:
The program cost for 5 Weeks of volunteering
will be GBP £650.00, of which
majority goes directly towards the building costs and
labour. The remaining covers program related costs:
all food, accommodation, project-related transport,
staff etc.Volunteers will also assist the YOI staff
in managing the funds and paying daily wages and materials
needed for the building work.
Total project cost for the first house was GBP £2000.00 and included all building materials, labour and
basic furniture. The second house will cost roughly the same and will be raised through volunteer fees and other contributions
before the actual building work starts. Volunteers are
encouraged to fundraise for this project if they can. |
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